King James Version

What Does Micah 2:3 Mean?

Micah 2:3 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your neck...” — study this verse from Micah chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.”

Micah 2:3 · KJV

Context

1

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2

And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. oppress: or, defraud

3

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

4

In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields. a doleful: Heb. a lamentation of lamentations turning: or, instead of restoring

5

Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

Read Micah 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil (לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה הִנְנִי חֹשֵׁב עַל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה הַזֹּאת רָעָה, lakhen koh-amar YHWH hineni choshev al-hammishpachah hazzo't ra'ah). The divine "therefore" (לָכֵן, lakhen) links judgment to crime. God חֹשֵׁב (choshev, devises/plans) רָעָה (ra'ah, evil/calamity) against the מִּשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah, family/clan)—using the oppressors' own vocabulary. They "devised" wickedness (2:1, חֹשְׁבֵי־אָוֶן, choshevei-aven); God devises judgment. Measure for measure—lex talionis (Exodus 21:23-25).

From which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תָמִישׁוּ מִשָּׁם צַוְּארֹתֵיכֶם וְלֹא תֵלְכוּ רוֹמָה, asher lo-tamishu missham tsavve'roteikhem we-lo telkhu romah). The imagery is a yoke from which they cannot remove צַוָּארֹ (tsavvar, neck)—captivity, subjugation, exile. רוֹמָה (romah, haughtily/proudly) describes their former arrogance; judgment will humble them. Those who walked proudly oppressing others will walk bent under exile's yoke.

For this time is evil (כִּי עֵת רָעָה הִיא, ki et ra'ah hi). The עֵת (et, time/season) is evil—an era of judgment, not prosperity. Amos similarly warned: "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time" (Amos 5:13). The oppressors' evil deeds inaugurated an evil time of reckoning. Galatians 6:7-8 states the principle: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." They sowed oppression; they'll reap captivity.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The phrase "this family" likely refers to the ruling class, wealthy landowners, and corrupt officials who exploited the poor. God's judgment came through Assyrian invasion (722 BC for Northern Kingdom, 701 BC assault on Judah) and later Babylonian exile (586 BC). The imagery of a yoke they cannot remove reflects captivity's inescapability—deportation to foreign lands, loss of freedom, subjugation to pagan empires.

The concept of divine measure-for-measure justice pervades Scripture. Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:10). Babylon, which destroyed Jerusalem, was itself destroyed (Jeremiah 50-51). Revelation depicts God's judgments as righteous and fitting (Revelation 16:5-7, 18:6-8). The principle: God's justice precisely fits the crime. Those who devise evil against neighbors experience corresponding evil. This isn't vindictive but restorative—removing oppressors protects the vulnerable and vindicates the righteousness of God's moral order.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's use of measure-for-measure judgment (devising evil against those who devised evil) demonstrate both justice and irony?
  2. What does the imagery of an inescapable yoke teach about the inevitability of consequences for persistent covenant violation?
  3. In what ways might modern Christians walk 'haughtily' in ways that invite divine humbling?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
לָכֵ֗ן1 of 22
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

כֹּ֚ה2 of 22
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר3 of 22

“Therefore thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֔ה4 of 22

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הִנְנִ֥י5 of 22
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

חֹשֵׁ֛ב6 of 22

“do I devise”

H2803

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

עַל7 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֥ה8 of 22

“Behold against this family”

H4940

a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people

הַזֹּ֖את9 of 22
H2063

this (often used adverb)

רָעָ֖ה10 of 22

“an evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

אֲ֠שֶׁר11 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא12 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תָמִ֨ישׁוּ13 of 22

“from which ye shall not remove”

H4185

to withdraw (both literally and figuratively, whether intransitive or transitive)

מִשָּׁ֜ם14 of 22
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

צַוְּארֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם15 of 22

“your necks”

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

וְלֹ֤א16 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֵֽלְכוּ֙17 of 22
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

רוֹמָ֔ה18 of 22

“haughtily”

H7317

elation, i.e., (adverbially) proudly

כִּ֛י19 of 22
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עֵ֥ת20 of 22

“for this time”

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc

רָעָ֖ה21 of 22

“an evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הִֽיא׃22 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Micah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Micah 2:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Micah 2:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 8:3Amos 5:13Isaiah 2:11-12Jeremiah 18:11Lamentations 2:17Lamentations 5:5

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